Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Henry Canyons is an LA-based Brooklyn-bred emcee, who, as a self-described "Brooklinite-French-Jew," transcends your typical ideal of what Hip-Hop could and should be; from his training as a Jazz saxophonist to his teenage years spent in Brooklyn ciphers, his melodic style, and bilingual lyrical integrity, Henry Canyons isn't exactly your typical emcee. He evokes a laid-back, yet extremely impactful flow similar in style to one-time Stones Throw signee Jonwayne with a keen ear for heavy-hitting, slightly off-kilter beats akin to Homeboy Sandman. Over the course of his storied career, Canyons has shared the stage with the likes of Macklemore, Tash (Tha Alkaholiks,) Open Mike Eagle, Pigeon Jon, Homeboy Sandman, Blue Scholars, DJ Mo Niklz, and PremRock. Henry Canyons boasts label affiliation with Brooklyn-based "Dystopian Hip-Hop" imprint/collective Backwoodz Studioz, whose current roster includes Armand Hammer (or billy woods & ELUCID,) billy woods, Blockhead, ELUCID, Willie Green, and of course, Henry Canyons himself; albeit, former Backwoodz signees and affiliates include A.M. Breakups, Dr. Monokrome, Invizzibl Men, Keith Masters, MeccaGodZilla, The Reavers, The Super Chron Flight Brothers, and Vordul Mega. Since first kick-starting his Indie Hip-Hop career back in 2012, Canyons has released two album-length projects and three corresponding EP's: Vignettes, Canyonland, One Thousand Plateaus, The Feels, and most recently, La Côte West.

"In September 2016, Henry Canyons flew to Biarritz—a small coastal surf town in the Basque country of Southwestern France—to participate in a two-month long artist residency with BoiSakré productions," Henry Canyons wrote on Bandcamp. Generally, working with choreographers, directors, visual artists, and other creative types, Canyons was BoiSakré's first participating musician and was heavily inspired by his mother's French heritage. BoiSakré productions required no pre-determined length for the eventual project or pre-requisite of form or style of work, which really, gave Henry Canyons open range to create whatever came to him. La Côte West showcases beats culled from producers Rhys Langston, $ample, CHAPTER3, beatmachinearon, Keor Meteor, and Simon Degli Innocenti on which Canyons "allowed each beat to set the tone and let the vignettes of his day-to-day experiences weave their way into his songs." On La Côte West EP, Henry Canyons and his beat-making buddies have truly, created something unique and as a decades-long Hip-Hop fan, I can honestly say, sounds like nothing I've ever heard before. Canyons and Backwoodz Studioz are currently finalizing the details for his second proper full-length on the label, entitled Cool Side of The Pillow, entirely produced by frequent collaborator and childhood friend Matt "Bones" Bowen. Henry Canyons is planning to go on a month-long tour with like-minded Hip-Hop artists PremRock & Fresh Kils as part of their SULTANS OF SPRING2018 TOUR. One date, in particular: Saturday 3/17 at Genghis Cohen in LA will dual as a La Côte West EP Release Show with special guests Elete & Ollie Chanin.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Jeremy Toy is a New Zealand-based Shoegaze revivalist and one half of She's So Rad, who moonlights as "Leonard Charles:" a Hip-Hop-leaning producer, multi-instrumentalist, and Basement Funk originator. Since releasing his critically-acclaimed J Dilla tribute album, Basement Donuts, Leonard Charles has teamed up with Jellphonic, Reggie Blunt & kutcorners for a Rick James covers EP entitled ALL NIGHT LONG; earlier this year, he joined forces with Detroit emcee Guilty Simpson for "Breaking Over You" 7-inch on Japanese imprint WONDERFUL NOISE, which was premiered digitally right here at The Witzard. However, in recent weeks, Jeremy Toy was unfortunately, involved in a hit-and-run accident after a Leonard Charles gig and was left with two broken legs. Now, with nothing but idle time while his legs slowly heal, Toy has vowed to return to recording material as "Leonard Charles" from his bed with beat machine and a crate-full of records in hand.

Last week, on his first day home from the hospital, Charles effortlessly flipped a sample culled from Hugh Hopper & Alan Gowen's collaborative 1980 album, Two Rainbows Daily, as originally sampled by Jay Dee AKA J Dilla on Common's Like Water for Chocolate (2000.) Leonard Charles, then, added in a hard-as-nails acapella from M.E.D. Blu & Madlib's 2017 Bang Ya Head EP, The Turn Up featuring Oh No and The Lions' emcee Black Shakespeare. We now, have Leonard Charles' Fully Non-certified Unofficial Remix of M.E.D. Blu & Madlib's "The Turn Up," which he vows, will remain online, unless anyone has issues with it and he'll gladly take it down. Leonard Chales recently told The Witzard, via email, he's working on a number of projects from his bed-side home studio including, but not limited to, a 12-inch Basement Funk with "The King of The Boogie" himself, Leroy Burgess, as well as a collaborative EP with Guilty Simpson. Leroy Burgess is, of course, the one-time singer, song-writer, and producer of R&B/Jazz-Funk group Black Ivory, who have been sampled by everyone from RZA for Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... to Lil B on his 2012 White Flame mixtape.

"As Dilla Month draws to a close, I found myself discharged from a month-long stay in hospital. With both my legs broken, most of my day is spent in bed. First day out of the hospital, I mucked around with a sample from an albumJay Dee messed with for [Common's] Like Water for Chocolate and as the beat came together, I remembered that the latest M.E.D. Blu & Madlib joint was released as an acapella. I love that they did that, it's like, back when 12-inches had acapellas; this is a bit of fun, a throwback Boom-Bap beat. I love that sh*t. If it annoys the owners of this music, I'll take it down! Peace."
- Leonard Charles (@LeonardCMusic)

I'm not entirely sure what's the best aspect about Philly-bred producer Harry Metz AKA Rolled Gold: that his name is an allusion to delicious pretzel company Rold Gold, his logo is an upside down cigar-smoking pretzel, or that he makes infectious Jazzy Blues/Soul-inflected Hip-Hop beats. While remaining largely silent throughout 2017, Rolled Gold has returned to dominate 2018 with his unique hard as nails sour dough brand of Hip-Hop. Barely two months into 2018, Harry Metz recently told The Witzard about a slew of beat-twisting projects he currently has in store for this year; already having properly re-released an abridged version of his 2016 SALTY EP re-titled SALTY (3P) and effectively, trimming it back to a concise 3-track collection. Now, not even a full week later, Rolled Gold has already re-surfaced to unleash a vocal-assisted version of his 2016 single, "Nite Owl's Theme" with modern day composer/multi-instrumenatlist and cousin Nate Forman as The Nite Owls. "Nite Owl's Theme" is the second single from Rolled Gold's upcoming compilation album, which will also, showcase his 2017 single, "The Field" featuring No Headliner.

"The production is from me and my cousin's original composition, "Nite Owl's Theme," which I sped up and chopped up just a little bit and carries a Soulful groove, similar to soundtrack music from the 1960-70's era," Harry Metz wrote within a recent press statement. Rolled Gold alludes to the fact that he has quite the "versatile, life-long musical resume ranging from Jazz to Punk Rock bands, Trap beats to live Neo-Soul groups, and more." Metz readily lists J Dilla, RZA, and DOOM as his greatest sources of inspiration and influence, as well as the storied catalogs of Motown, Stax, and Philly International Records. Rolled Gold's "Nite Owl's Theme" now features amended verses from fellow Philadephians Ai-Que & Reef The Lost Cauze. "Nite Owl's Theme" ('Rap Version') features numerous sonic benchmarks akin to like-minded artists such as Bob James, BADBADNOTGOOD, Pat Van Dyke, El Michels Affair, Adrian Younge & Venice Dawn, and Will Sessions. Rolled Gold's upcoming releases will include instrumental/remix EP's and an as-yet-untitled compilation album, all constructed from 100% original samples and compositions.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Die-hard Hip-Hop heads and The Witzard's trusty devotees alike will recall: the last time we heard from Denver emcee CURTA, he and long-time producer 4Digit were preparing to release their CLICK BAIT EP on FilthyBroke Recordings/Hello L.A. Lest we forget, Philly Noir-Hop originator Zilla Rocca's re-contextualized and remixed version of CURTA's "Rap Trope Questionnaire" was premiered right here at The Witzard last March. Now, CURTA are back with their first single, "The Messiah Complex," lifted from upcoming EP End of Future Park slated to be self-released on Bandcamp this upcoming March 19th. "End of Future Park is named for a construction sign meant to indicate the point at which the City of Denver's proposed "future park" starts and ends," CURTA wrote within a recent press statement. "This sign is painted on an underpass pillar a few blocks from my home and small studio where we recorded the album," CURTA further elaborated. End of Future Park EP is again, entirely produced by frquent collaborator 4Digit and teeters into fresh sonic territory for CURTA, "bouncing synth lines and Experimental noise combine as the lush backdrop for tracks obsessively tweaked into coherence."

Not only is CURTA back with six "very sexy"-sounding tracks, Side B of End of Future Park EP will include 26 minutes of un-used instrumentals producer 4Digit created around the same time CURTA wrote the preceding six songs. "The Life of 4Digit Vol. 1," as they're referring to it on Bandcamp, is an entire mixed down instrumental "beat tape," which can seemingly, be enjoyed, re-contextualized, beefed up, and re-used however you (the listener) sees best fit. CURTA's End of Future Park EP is currently available for pre-order on Bandcamp in a number of multi-formatted packages: (1) standard digital album with high-quality MP3, FLAC, etc. download or (2) 100 limited edition "gold"-encrusted cassettes... while supplies last! Only lead-off single, "The Messiah Complex," is currently available for streaming, along with the pre-order; however, I've heard the full End of Future Park EP and can assure you, it's indeed, a solid, single-song representation of CURTA & 4Digit's impending "fresh sonic territory." CURTA is currently gearing up to embark on a 14-date West/Southwest FICTIONS TOUR 2018 along with Portland-based Electronic/Folk singer cars & trains, which will culminate with CURTA's triumphant End of Future Park EP Release Show 3/14 at Denver's Seventh Circle Collective.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

"It's cool to see things come full-circle. A year ago, nearly to the day, I walked out of my classroom and headed home for Winter Break. My only aim for that window of creative time was to put together the foundation for the best project possible to submit for Fake Four's Freecember series the following year," San Francisco/Bay Area rapper-producer OneWerd wrote within a recent press statement. Adding that he then, spent the next three weeks "experimenting with new production approaches, brain-storming, and collecting song ideas and working them out into lyrics." Upon completing eight genre-eschewing beats for what would ultimately, become his Alive EP, OneWerd reached out to a particular collection of artists he looked up to and admired to appear within Alive; this would end up including features from Denver emcee sole, Graves 33, Sleep of Oldominion, Ersatz Splynter, and Fake Four, Inc.'s own "anti-boss himself," Ceschi. OneWerd's Alive EP was released as part of Fake Four's Freecember 2017 series, along with Anonymous Inc. AKA Ceschi & David Ramos' Beta 1 EP, Oscar Goldman's Prevoid EP, and AllOne's Dusty Dossiers EP. It's also, of particular note that "all music and album art [was] produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by OneWerd, 4 cats, and excessive amounts of coffee."

Since the December 2017 release of his Alive EP on Fake Four, Inc.OneWerd has been steadily promoting the EP (which is how our paths crossed) and repping his own unique brand of "Intergalactic Mood Music, Extraterrestrial Hardcore Big Band, Symphonic Experimental Shoegaze Trap-step," fused with slightly more traditional Hip-Hop. If pressed, I would likely, describe the sound contained on OneWerd's Alive EP as something between Run The Jewels and Imagine Dragons with a sonic dash of TV On The Radio. Last month, OneWerd unleashed his first self-directed and edited music video for Alive EP solo cut "Inner Truths."OneWerd explained: "Inner Truths," the first visual treatment from Alive, is an examination of what it means to stay rooted in the face of external pressures to change or conform. I've often felt discouraged by the pressure to fit within an easily-marketable template in the music industry and this song is a reminder to myself to fight back against the voices that would dissuade you from speaking your own inner truths." OneWerd further detailed, he had a bit of behind-camera assistance from his friends The IMF and Jeff Stone for "Inner Truths," which was shot in various locations around his hometown of San Mateo, California. OneWerd's latest Alive EP is now available to stream or download from Fake Four, Inc.'s Bandcamp, along with the rest of their Freecember 2017 releases.

Monday, February 19, 2018

It's safe to say, I've been patiently awaiting J.Rocc's J Dilla & Michael Jackson-blending mash-up project ever since Stones Throw posted: "Share My Bed=M.J. & Dilla 1st track "Player Has Butterflies"... wait 4 the rest" nearly 10 years ago back in November 2009. Over the years, a handful of tracks have been sporadically leaked out from the project—alternatively, referred to as "Dil Jackson"—but every year, as Dilla Month (February) comes and goes, I've always wondered, if we would ever hear the entirety of J.Rocc's Share My Bed. Even this year, J Dilla's birthday, Feb. 7th (same as my dad's!) passed, as well as Feb. 10th, the 12th anniversary of his passing, and still, no signs of J.Rocc's anxiously-awaited Dil Jackson project. However, just a few days ago, on Valentine's Day, J.Rocc quietly dropped Share My Bed on his Bandcamp, without any prior notice or warning. Self-described as a project Beat Junkies Founder & DJ J.Rocc admittedly, "started years ago, but never finished," Share My Bed consists of eight wonderfully-executed seamless blends of both Michael & Dilla's greatest hits and most beloved cult favorites.

J Dilla, himself, actually, sampled both Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5 on a number of occasions throughout his storied career: "Time: The Donut of The Heart" from magnum opus Donuts samples Jackson 5's "All I Do Is Think of You," "Inhuman Nature" naturally, samples "Human Nature" from Thriller, and "Track 19" from Dilla's infamous Beat CD '05 #3 samples Jackson 5's "Dancing Machine," which was ultimately, re-purposed on Q-Tip's 2008 single, "Move." Not only did J Dilla AKA Jay Dee produce a 1997 "Gone 'til It's Gone" remix for Janet, he also constructed a remix of Michael's "HIStory" along with A Tribe Called Quest members Q-Tip & Ali Shaheed Muhammad, collectively billed as The Ummah. "J Dilla once said he was [going] to make an album of him singing. The cover was a picture of him [on his side] like Michael Jackson on Thriller. The title of the LP was going to be SHARE MY BED," J.Rocc further detailed on his Bandcamp.

Upon first hearing J.Rocc's Share My Bed, I reached out to my friend and frequent collaborator, graphic designer Tin Kulj AKA Unibrow Duck to see if he could design an original alt. Thriller-esque album cover, as Dilla himself had imagined. Needless, to say, after a few emails back-and-forth over the weekend, Tin indeed, delivered! Unibrow Duck designed three pieces of original artwork inspired by Michael Jackson's world-renown album, Thriller; specifically, the 1982 inner-sleeve gatefold artwork featuring Michael posing with an adorable little tiger cub, to which Tin even added distressed "worn LP" details. Unibrow Duck's Share My Bed inner-sleeve art can be viewed at the top of this very post, with the rest of his artwork available to view at UnibrowDuck.Tumblr.com. Lest we forget, @UnibrowDuck also, recently designed original pieces of artwork for our recurring Beat-maker Bedrock producer column, as well as The Witzard's Andy Cooper "THE PERFECT DEFINITION" Remix Comp. playlist. "TURN IT UP! A LITTLE LOUDA!"

It's since, seemingly disappeared from The Internet, but DARK THOUGHTS HALLOWEEN TAPE featured four tracks, as well as festive sound effects and "spooky noises," which is why DARK THOUGHTS WINTER TAPE appears to be so much shorter at a total of 4:01-minutes in length. Having already heard five tracks, as well as a couple rough demos, from DARK THOUGHTS' 2016 self-titled debut follow-up, it appears as though DARK THOUGHTS AT WORK is soon impending. DARK THOUGHTS currently have a string of gigs lined up for the next few months, including 3/23 W/ BUGG [& CLASP] @ EVERYBODY HITS and 4/5 W/ SWEARIN', BIG EYES & WEEDHOUNDS @ MARKET HOTEL (NYC) and new dates are regularly added to the sidebar of DARK THOUGHTS' Bandcamp. WINTER TAPE will be currently available at DARK THOUGHTS' upcoming East Coast dates and cassettes are also, available to purchase directly from DARKTHOUGHTS.BIGCARTEL.COM, if you aren't able to make it out to a show this Winter. ❄️

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Petridisch (@petridisch) describes himself as a "mainly Electronic music composer on the Darkwave side, who loves VOCALOID / sometimes plays a reverbed-out guitar" hailing from Boston. Petridisch is a mysterious creature, also know as Thor Maillet, who has issued a staggering 26 individual releases, since first launching his project on Bandcamp in 2015-16. Just in 2017, Petridisch released four full-length albums: Wired, Classical Vocaloid, Monolith, Split—re-released on Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music as An Interrogation—and most recently, 358, as well as limited edition 358 VHS + CASSETTE + DIGITAL + DVD! combo-packs on Illuminated Paths, as well as a unique "video album" crafted in collaboration with Broken Machine Films Presents... However, Thor Maillet has personally, been making music since 1995 as part of various bands, collaborative projects, and solo endeavors, including, but not limited to, Cryostasium / Thor Maillet, CTM, Petridisch, and simply "Thor Maillet."

Petridisch's music is equally influenced by both, the works of Philip Glass and Mylène Farmer, as Thor Maillet says his general intent with his music it to "explore the greyer areas of the psyche with inevitable elements of light and humor." Petridisch's latest release, "GLASS: Music In Contrary Motion (for Farfisa, Synth & Vocaloid)" is a 15-minute re-interpretation of a 1969 work by American "minimalist" composer Philip Glass. It's just the first in an on-going series of GLASS re-interpretations to be released throughout 2018. "GLASS: Music In Contrary Motion" will be released on Petridisch's Bandcamp page on March 2nd and is currently available for pre-order, however, it's currently streaming EXCLUSIVELY here at The Witzard. In addition to his GLASS Project, Petridisch has a number of projects lined up for release during 2018: Rêve d'un Rêve to be released on cassette through Norwegian imprint Asura Revolver on Feb. 24th, Illuminated Paths cassette entitled Umjammer, and VIPER & Broken Machine Films Presents... upcoming album 'BOUT THA MONEY will feature "mastering by Thor," as well as a number of yet-to-be-announced projects. I'll just let Petridisch himself further explain "GLASS: Music In Contrary Motion (for Farfisa, Synth & Vocaloid)" down below the break.

"THE PROJECT: At least two larger-scale Philip Glass works to be re-interpreted for Electronic Farfisa organ and Vocaloid with sometimes, other parts added for texture, by myself—directed by published Philip Glass scores. Vol. 1 is a single, the 1969 work "Music In Contrary Motion," to be released March 2nd. Vol. 2 will be the large-scale 1975 work, "Another Look at Harmony, Part 4" to be released [in] either, April or May. Other works to be determined.

THE SINGLE:"GLASS: Music In Contrary Motion (for Farfisa, Synth & Vocaloid.)" This will be released, via Bandcamp, on March 2nd in lossless and other formats and also, through digital distribution outlets.

THE PIECE ITSELF: This piece was originally composed in 1969 by Philip Glass. The instrumentation is open, pretty much whatever you see fit. It consists of 23 scored sections, or "modules," that one plays through with a few repeats, before moving onto the next section. The number of repeats per section is flexible; I chose none to give it an ever-moving and maybe disconcerting "roller coaster ride" feel. If you listen to other recordings of the piece, most of the time, you will hear sections repeat. All the music is written "in contrary motion." This means that the upper line of the music moves in direct contrast to the lower line of the music—in the score—every note. There are only five notes in total in the piece (A, B, C, D, E,) as well! I imagine, it would be extremely hard for a human vocal ensemble to pull off what the robots pulled off in Vocaloid, but it was the very reason I chose this particular piece. I wanted to hear voices sing these amazingly convoluted parts!"

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Since we last heard from beat-twisting West Philly producer Rolled Gold here at The Witzard, it was when he and Philly emcee Uncle Crimson self-released their collaborative 2016 The Great Fallback EP. Rolled Gold producer Harry Metz quietly released a one-off single entitled "The Field" with a vocal assist from No Headliner in July 2017, as well as "Nite Owl's Theme" from The Nite Owls AKA Harry Metz and his cousin Nate Forman. The Nite Owls actually, formed in April 2016 and are being billed as a "Soul, Jazz, and soundtrack music duo," which also features contributions from musically-inclined friends Kavian Bina, Jonathan Vaders, and Ray Bailey. "This time around, me and my cousin are putting together a band that will do less Hip-Hop and more Soul, Jazz, and 1960-70's soundtrack music. I've linked up with a handful of Soul singers, as well to work with this year," Rolled Gold told The Key XPN back in 2016, upon the release of his SALTY EP, seemingly, alluding to The Nite Owls. Metz is actually, planning to re-release "Nite Owl's Theme" this upcoming Tuesday, February 20th with newly-added verses from emcees Ai-Que & Reef The Lost Cauze. Upon its initial release, SALTY EP was stylized as a compilation project showcasing 7-8 rappers hailing from Philly, The Bronx, Camden, NJ simply "talking sh*t" over seven dusty, sample-based beats.

This past Monday, February 12th @RolledGoldBeats Tweeted, "F**k it, just re-inventing my first compilation EP into a quick 3-song jawn now. Peep that #SALTY (3P) on Soundcloud, feat. @Ai_Que, @MrVisto, @thebulBEY & @UncleCrim." Essentially, Rolled Gold took his debut 2016 release and trimmed off a few tracks, re-branded it as "SALTY (3P)" and re-released it to the masses. When I reached out to Harry Metz for further commentary, he said, via email: "so, in the spirit of re-launching my brand this year, I figured I'd start promoting that project again as a quick 3-song EP for new listeners to digest easily and I know they'll like all 3 tracks." If you, much like myself, weren't exposed to Rolled Gold's SALTY EP when it was initially released in January 2016, now is the perfect time to re-visit Rolled Gold's Bluesy, Jazz-laden, and perfectly "sweet and salty" SALTY (3P.) I'm told Rolled Gold has a gaggle of upcoming projects currently in-the-works including, but not limited to, an as-yet-untitled album featuring Ai-Que & Reef The Lost Cauze, a Career Crooks remix with Wino Willy on Thieving As Long As I'm Breathing EP, an instrumental EP with 100% original samples, a joint EP with Boogieman Dela entitled Broken Watch Pt. 2, and an instrumental EP recorded with Wino Willy. Rolled Gold's recently re-packed and re-released SALTY (3P) is now available to stream or download on Bandcamp and Soundcloud; make sure to keep an eye out for The Nite Owls' "Nite Owl's Theme" (Rap Version) to be re-released this upcoming Tuesday, February 20th.

Monday, February 12, 2018

First and foremost, I have to readily admit, what you see below is a previously unpublished 2017 interview with Jay "J-Zone" Mumford & Pablo Martin of The Du-Rites conducted right around the release of their second collaborative album, Greasy Listening, or "2 albums - 1 CD Mo' Funk, Less $$." After conducting the initial emailed interview with both Jay & Pablo, my fiance and I purchased our first home together, the holidays came and went, and amidst constant preparations for our Fall 2018 wedding, I quite simply, and unfortunately, forgot to publish my second comprehensive Q&A with The Du-Rites. It actually, makes complete and total sense, in its own weird way, to publish this interview now, as Greasy Listening and almost all the separate projects from J-Zone & Pablo Martin mentioned within—aside from The Du-Rites' full "The Odyssey" (The Fizzy Wo-Magnificent Remix)—have been effectively released to the masses: THE ZONE IDENTITY's "Funk-I-Tus" 7-inch, MANZEL with J-Zone's "High & Tight" 7-inch, LULU LEWIS' self-titled EP and "One Note Rock and Roll" featuring both Pablo Martin & J-Zone, The Du-Rites' remix of Wax Tailor & Ghostface Killah's "Worldwide," and and The Du-Rites' first original theme song for Vivica Fox's 2017 film, Fat Camp.

Honestly, now seems like as good a time as ever to finally publish The Witzard's second interview with J-Zone & Pablo Martin of The Du-Rites,as they're currently preparing a slew of releases for 2018, including, but not limited to: J-Zone's Gorilla Breaks (break beat record,) The Du-Rites' "Gamma Ray Funk" B/W "Fish Sammich" 7-inch, THE ZONE IDENTITY's "Melting Pot" B/W "Soul Food" 7-inch, and The Du-Rites-composed score/theme for Bobbito Garcia's upcoming Rock Rubber 45's documentary, as well as purported releases from Benjamin & The Dreamdancers, LULU LEWIS, and PABLO. The Du-Rites' comprehensive 2 albums 1 CD Mo' Funk, Less $$ combo pack is currently available to stream or download on Bandcamp, along with the the aforementioned 2017-18 J-Zone & Pablo Martin releases.

Jay "J-Zone" Mumford: I think the songs are beginning to write themselves. The first time around, I personally, would try to aim for something I'd heard before or something I had in my head and I'd dictate the direction to Pablo. He would end up just doing his own thing, anyway and it was almost always for the better. So, this time around we just did what came naturally, rather than trying to micro-manage. I think we also have more of a focus on good song-writing and composition, as opposed to jams and vamps.

Pablo Martin: On this album, we got rid of big orchestrations; we went for a smaller ensemble—mostly drums, organ or electric piano, one guitar track,and one bass track. Very minimal. Songs used very few tracks. It's very gritty. Written very fast; we're basically, relying on dirt.

II. Greasy Listening was cut live in-studio in "The Collard Green Lounge," correct? How does this approach differ from how your first album together, J-Zone & Pablo Martin Are The Du-Rites was recorded?

J-Zone: Same process. We just added the faux-live thing to be tongue-in-cheek about our live show limitations as a duo.

Pablo: It's was pretty much, the same [thing as] the first album, in terms of recording.

III. Now, what exactly are you currently willing and able to reveal about your upcoming The Du-Rites remixes for Wax Tailor, Ghostface Killah, Large Professor, and Lil' Fame (of M.O.P. fame)? Were you initially approached by these artists/labels or did you fellas seek them out?

J-Zone: Wax Tailor is a French producer and DJ. He's dope. He had done a song called "Worldwide" with Ghostface and reached out for a remix. The song with Fame, Large Pro, and Timeless Truth is called "The Odyssey." That was done as an EPK [electronic press kit] theme song for a wedding DJ named Choimatic. There were a lot of remixes for that song and ours was one. The instrumental was strong enough to ride on its own, so we added it as a bonus track called "Du-Matic!" * on the CD and digital versions of the album.

Pablo: Except for the Lil' Fame [remix], they are all already done; in fact, the bonus digital and CD-only track from Greasy [Listening], "Du-Matic!" * is the playback for the Large Professor track. We were approached by the producers, that's how we got into [these] remixes.

IV. How did you get involved with Vivica Fox's [2017] film, Fat Camp? Your Reks-featuring "Fat Camp Theme" is showcased within the movie's trailer. What was it like working with an outer-Du-Rites emcee, let alone an award-winning actress and major film studio?

J-Zone: That was through Brian Hamilton over at Beats & Rhymes, who does our sync stuff. We never had any interaction with Vivica or Rex (the emcee,) but the song came out dope and we're happy to be in a film!

Pablo: That was through the people who license our music, they got us the gig. Again, Jay got it first, I think. He got the vocal track and some music that the production didn't like, so we removed it and Jay did the drums and sent it to me because the producers liked the guitar sound of "Git'n Off;" so, I made a riff and the bass line. It was pretty much, like the remixes—just one more track, in this case, vocals. I did not see Fat Camp yet. It's on Amazon for $5.99 rental feels like a deductible of my fee.

V. What can you fellas tell me about the making-of The Du-Rites' first proper music video, "Du The Twitch" directed by Pablo's wife and LULU LEWIS bandmate, Dylan Hundley? Who thought up the various concepts and scenarios employed throughout? It's a very fun-loving, amusing video!

J-Zone: That was all Dylan and Pablo. I got a migraine that day. The heat, dealing with shooting a video, and being around a lot of people and having to entertain was too much for me. I had some of my friends show up, but my involvement in video stuff is almost zero. I do more of the boring data, merchandise, and shipping stuff. Pablo usually handles visuals and locations and Dylan is great at that stuff. I totally hate doing videos and anything related to promotion, to be honest, but it came out spectacular.

Pablo: The Du-Rites are not very trendy, when it comes to real estate. Jay is from Jamaica, Queens and I'm in [Washington] Heights, New York. We're neighborhood guys. For a while, I wanted to catch the essence of an uptown block party, so we talked with Kyle Scott, who's a good friend of Dylan. He runs a public garden on the corner of 142nd and Amsterdam Ave. and he BBQ's for the 'hood every Saturday weather allows; anyone can go there and have an amazing meal, while you get to meet a really incredible group of characters. We shot on Dylan's phone, the same way we do with LULU LEWIS. We just let her direct and do her thing. We just invited our friends and the people there to create their own step, "The Twitch" and we went from there. It was hilarious and great fun. Overwhelmed by the social environment, Jay got a migraine...

J-Zone: THE ZONE IDENTITY is working on a follow-up 7-inch. That MANZEL 7-inch is about to drop this Fall. I'm the drummer for both LULU LEWIS and Benjamin & The Dreamdancers. SUPER-BLACK, I'm not sure.

EDITOR'S NOTE: J-Zone's GoVillainGo.com listed "SUPER-BLACK LP (with Prince Paul and Sacha Jenkins) – Fall 2017/TBA" within their A Generic Update (Because when you're silent on social media people think you died) as recently as May 18, 2017.

Pablo: LULU LEWIS is growing and playing regularly in NY, posting video frequently, and getting ready for the full-length. LULU is complex to mix—takes time and when I'm by myself, I have a tendency to procrastinate. PABLO is on stand-by, but I'm gonna post the single with two songs pretty soon. Tom Tom, I go when they call, but at this moment, Chris & Tina are enjoying life and who can blame them?

VII. How were you able yo fully write, record, produce, mix, master, etc. and ultimately, release Greasy Listening so soon after J-Zone & Pablo Martin Are The Du-Rites? It's been a little less than a year!

J-Zone: Funkin' is a daily routine. We're always making music.

Pablo: These are the times we live right now: release or get lost in the pile. We were pumped by the success of the first album and we wanted to keep going, while we were still "hot." I guess, the first album took years in-the-making, since we started 'til we decided we were a project and we put it out. By writing the second album so quick, we're just catching up with the average time to do things.

VIII. Your recent album press release states that "Greasy Listening is a "live" concert staged at a fictions hole-in-the-wall chitlin' circuit venue, fittingly dubbed: "The Collard Green Lounge."' How was your recording set-up arranged differently this go-'round than last time?

J-Zone: Recording set-up was pretty much the same. Just swapped out a few keyboards, on my end.

Pablo: All I can say is: how many bands [do] you know that never played a live show that already have a "live" album?

IX. What was your inspiration behind Greasy Listening's 1960-70's-reminiscent front and reverse vinyl LP covers? Now, was the front cover image taken in a diner or something, fellas?

J-Zone: Since it was a faux-"live" album, I thought it'd be cool to channel those early 70's live album covers, where they had a photo collage. I always used to trip out off those covers, as a kid looking at old records.

Pablo: Jay came up with the concept, which is definitely a literal interpretation of the title of the album. We even bought the chef jackets and we made sure to take good care of them, so we could return them right after. Shot was taken by my friend, Juan Mirko, at a Dominican joint in Harlem called El Nuevo Amanecer. They have been feeding me consistently in nine years or so I've been living here. The ladies who run the place are sweethearts. They let us do it at the bar; we wanted to be beside the counter, but we would have to wear hats, due to sanitation codes and that would have messed up we the look... The back cover was also Jay's concept and it's the register of a "show" at The Collard Green Lounge.

X. How did you guys decide to issue J-Zone & Pablo Martin Are The Du-Rites/Greasy Listening together on one CD for your "2002 Ford Focus-driving contingent?" This is the first time J-Zone & Pablo Martin...'s being released on CD, correct?

J-Zone: Yes, both albums were short enough to fit on one CD. CD's are a risk these days, unless you have a core following that buys them or you tour often. We didn't know what type of response the first album would get and we weren't touring, so we never did CD's. We figured with two albums-worth of material at a decent price and a limited pressing, we could satisfy any demand there was for CD's and have it make sense.

Pablo: People kept asking about CD's,so we gave it a shot. It's technically, a Greasy Listening CD version, but since all our [complete] discography is there, I'd like to call it "Mo' Funk, Less $$."

Friday, February 9, 2018

JE DOUBLE F (Jeff Richie) is a self-described "Punk-Rap" emcee and producer hailing from Atlantic City, New Jersey. Richie has previously crafted demonic-sounding beats for fellow East CoasterStillborn Identity AKA Cody Cody Jones, released a split 7-inch with Sleep Beggar, and runs his own music, film, and book imprint called AMERICAN SCREAM RECORDS. Last year, Jeff put together one of the earliest Beat-maker Bedrock columns for The Witzard, which showcased Gravediggaz's RZArector-produced 6 Feet Deep, Glenn Danzig-fronted Samhain's Final Descent, and Nine Inch Nails' critically-acclaimed 1989 debut, Pretty Hate Machine. JE DOUBLE F's latest solo release, HUMAN RITES, was issued on AMERICAN SCREAM in June 2017 and was fittingly, first described to me as something along the lines of "Danzig [meets] MF DOOM." When Jeff Richie's not composing his own unique brand of Punk-Rap head-bangers, he's busy fronting a "Nihilist New Wave" revival act dubbed TUFF TURF. Since first forming in 2013, TUFF TURF have self-released two full-length albums, one EP, and a characteristically "New Wave" cassingle/sunglasses combo pack on AMERICAN SCREAM RECORDS. TUFF TURF readily list their greatest sources of inspiration and influence as The Cure, Oingo Boingo, The Cars, Joy Division, Bruce Springsteen, and of course, Danzig & Samhain.

Last year, Jeff Richie and mysterious TUFF TURF members JH & CM quietly released their latest 2-track "BODY HEAT" Cassingle backed with melodically brooding B-side "HEAVEN, RIGHT NOW."BODY HEAT is currently available in a number of unique formats including pro-dubbed cassette + full-color sticker + custom-printed sunglasses combo pack, digital download, or standard cassingle. Upon its Sept. 1, 2017 release, TUFF TURF's "BODY HEAT" Cassingle was accompanied by a "Love Will Tear Us Apart"-evoking music video for its A-side. Now, at the top of 2018, Jeff Richie & TUFF TURF have re-emerged from the shadows of the Atlantic City Boardwalk to release a similarly-minded music video for B-side, "HEAVEN, RIGHT NOW." "Atlantic City Nihilist New Wavers TUFF TURF release video for "HEAVEN, RIGHT NOW," B-side to the late 2017 "BODY HEAT" Cassingle. "HEAVEN, RIGHT NOW" is a New Wave dreamer's nightmare with it's delayed guitars, classic Roland Juno synth bass, and a frighteningly direct message: no one knows somebody who has been strong enough for long enough to ever get to Heaven," reads a recent TUFF TURF press statement. BODY HEAT is currently available to stream or purchase in a number of limited edition packages from TUFF TURF's Bandcamp, via JE DOUBLE F's New Jersey-based AMERICAN SCREAM RECORDS.

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

South Philly rapper-producer and one half of Career Crooks, Zilla Rocca has returned with his first proper solo release of 2018, "99 Triple 5 Soul Flow."Zilla is not only, part of Career Crooks with producer buddy Small Professor, but also, runs with his own crews, The Shadowboxers—formerly, The 5 O'Clock Shadow Boxers—and Wrecking Crew with fellow emcees Curly Castro & PremRock, along with Small Pro. Zilla Rocca additionally, runs his own Philly-based label, Three Dollar Pistol Music, is co-creator of @rapbooklets' Instagram, and fancies himself a "Noir-Hop originator and corrupt novelist." "99 Triple 5 Soul Flow" is of course, a reference to infamous 1990's Hip-Hop clothing brand Triple 5 Soul and is the sequel to last year's similarly-minded "98 Avirex Flow;" a stand-alone single with sonic ties to Zilla Rocca's upcoming '96 Mentality, which was produced by Disco Vietnam AKA @SupernovaLox. Now, this is where it gets a little hairy, Disco Vietnam was and still is a Rock "N" Roll band with a rotating cast of characters, which currently includes: Barry Schwartz, his brother Kenny Schwartz, and keyboardist Nicki Kunzinger.

Disco Vietnam (the band) is currently on a bit of a hiatus, but Barry Schwartz still records and releases Hip-Hop music and beats as "Disco Vietnam"—also, his recent beat-making alias. "99 Triple 5 Soul Flow" is made up of "an old beat Zilla dusted off," as Schwartz put it. When asked for comment on "99 Triple 5 Soul Flow,"Zilla Rocca, or their future work together, Barry Schwartz said: "me and Zilla Rocca dug coal together." Between 2007-12, Disco Vietnam released three Bandcamp EP's: Get at Me Corruption, TOTALLY AWESOME DECISIONS, and wonderfully-titled Fear of Lava. Disco Vietnam's 2007 smash single, "The NP (Natalie Portman)" was even featured on HOT 97's Rosenberg Radio. However, if you're more into the beat-making side of things, Disco Vietnam also, has a Soundcloud page chock-full of beats, rough sketches, demos, features with rappers, Disco Vietnam (band) songs, and much, much more with material dating as far back as 2011. Zilla Rocca is currently wrapping up a number of projects to be released throughout 2018, including, but not limited to, Career Crooks' Thieving As Long As I'm Breathing remix EP, '96 Mentality, and his long-awaited solo album, Future Former Rapper. I'll just let Zilla Rocca take it from here...

"I have a few releases dropping this year with Career Crooks being a remix project, Thieving As Long As I'm Breathing and then, my official solo LP, Future Former Rapper, probably in the summertime. '96 Mentality is a project I just did really quick—it's where my head is right now. Most of the songs are two minutes or shorter and it's a bunch of producers on there that I'm very cool with that are incredibly dope: Disco Vietnam, Ray West [Red Apples 45], The Expert, DJ Manipulator, Dr. Quandary, and more. It's just a banging Rap project that made me think about how much I loved Rap in 1996 and how that year inspired me to take Rap seriously. So, here I am 22 years later, putting out my own music based off that year!"

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

The Witzard regulars might recognize the name "Sleep Sinatra" from a recent post on these very pages; if so, you've likely heard his silky smooth rhymes schemes on either "B.I.E." with The Custodian of Records AKA TCOR or Flashius Clayton's The Custodian of Records-produced "Anchorman Fight Scene"—or maybe, even TCOR's recent "Anchorman Fight Scene" (Frozen Earth Mix)—alongside equally gritty SPENCER for Higher emcee Vic Spencer. Since running said "B.I.E."-centric post, both Sleep Sinatra and The Custodian of Records have issued new projects: surprise-released XMXTHXST (AMETHYST) EP and mail-order "Lousy New Year's" B/W "Blizzard" 7-inch, respectively. 7-inches can be ordered directly from The Custodian of Records at fiverowsback@gmail.com, however, at the time of this articles's publishing, post-Super Bowl LII, @Custidainofreco Tweeted 7-inches were quickly "Going, going, GONE! (Almost)" I'm just happy I already got my TCOR "Lousy New Year's" B/W "Blizzard" 7-inch, before they nearly sold out! From what I've heard, "B.I.E." and "Anchorman Fight Scene" are just the first sonic previews of what could likely, be an on-going fruitful collaborative partnership between Sleep Sinatra & The Custodian of Records.

"This EP came about by having a long-standing musical relationship with producer Kendall Carter. I met Kendall through a mutual friend/another long-time collaborator of mine, M.O.D." Sleep Sinatra wrote within a recent emailed statement. "This project first began to manifest itself in late 2016-early 2017 and through mid-2017, my home recording set-up crashed. I thought I had lost everything, until further inspection recently, when I discovered I still had all the tracks" @SleepSinatra enthusiastically continued. Upon discovering, he in fact, hadn't lost the entirety of his collaborative 5-song EP with Kendall Carter, Sleep Sinatra surprise-released his XMXTHXST (AMETHYST) EP Monday, January 22, 2018 with little to no warning. XMXTHXST EP's 5 tracks run a combined total of nearly 12 minutes, but it's a truly great, innovative listen; Kendall Carter's sample beds are chock-full of references to amethyst fields, audio sound bites, and Jazz-laden samples that evoke Bob James' landmark 1974-77 album series: One, Two, Three, and BJ4. Aside from one lone feature from Abe The Griot on "Social Sciences,"Sleep Sinatra effortlessly bodies Carter's beats all by himself with intuitive, hard-as-nails verse after verse. XMXTHXST (AMETHYST) EP is currently available to stream or purchase on Sleep Sinatra's Bandcamp and Soundcloud pages. Sleep's THE HISTORIAN-produced XMXTHXST EP follow-up, "Narcisse" is available to stream on Soundcloud now, as well.

Monday, February 5, 2018

I'm proud to present to you, my trusty The Witzard disciples, a new (hopefully) recurring column to be tentatively entitled "Wax Watchers," which will, for the time being, at least, chronicle physical reviews of physical media, such as: full-length vinyl, 7-inches, cassettes, and CD's. This first introductory installment of Wax Watchers will showcase a freshly-pressed 7-inch EP from Bay Area Ska PunksJokes for Feelings(JFF) entitled Too Much Too Hipster. Last October, I was "cold sent" a pre-release digital single from JFF called "Sweet Song," which was slated to appear within the band's then-upcoming 4-song EP to be released at the top of 2018. Last month, Jokes for Feelings played an EP Release Show at notorious West Berkley Punk/Hardcore venue 924 Gilman St. AKA Gilman, along with Mustard PLUG, Buck-O-Nine, Neverlyn, and Shark Punch—awesome band name; just about a week or so ago, I received my characteristically checkered press copy of Jokes for Feelings' Too Much Too Hipster 7-inch EP by mail, which I'll be reviewing track-by-track down below the break! Get your moshin' shoes on and brace yourself for the inaugural installment of The Witzard's Wax Watchers column. Jokes for Feelings' Too Much Too Hipster EP is currently available to stream or download on Amazon, Apple Music, CD Baby, Soundcloud, and Spotify or on 7-inch vinyl directly from the band themselves.

Too Much Too Hipster EP opener "Camphill Lane" sounds something like early 2000's Euro-Ska/Punk, i.e: Gogol Bordello or Balkan Beat Box. It features playful violin-accented lyrics, as well as Gypsy-Punk-esque stylings. Around the 1:30-minute mark, "Camphill Lane" gets characteristically more Jokes for Feelings with accents of Berkley Ska Punks Operation Ivy/Rancid. Sample lyrics: "Hungry Hungry Hippos, where did they go? I miss my Barrel of f***in' Monkeys!!!" The track reverts to its previous Euro Ska/Punk-evoking vibe, before closing.

"Sweet Song" was the first single/teaser I initially heard from the EP back in October 2017. It features a vocal delivery vaguely reminiscent of New Found Glory frontman Jordan Pundik. "Sweet Song" is a slow burning Ska/Punk "love song," which features an incredibly infectious hook, by way of: "never gonna get nowhere until you take a chance with me..." "Sweet Song" additionally, showcases Jokes for Feelings' extremely talented then-horn section of trombonist Dice and trumpet player Angela, as well as a top-notch shreddin' guitar solo from either Bill or Josh Raphael. New trombonists Allie Miller & Noah Ortiz, as well as as player Michael Booker have been added since the EP's recording sessions. "Sweet Song" closes out Side A.

"The Muppet Show with My Bro" sounds something like an old pre-Enema of The State Blink-182 jam. Lead vocals reminiscent of ...And Out Come The Wolves-era Rancid are accented by 2 Tone Ska-evocative horns. It consist of silly, youthful lyrics, such as: "he was tough as hard nails and he crushed up all my snails." "The Muppet Show with My Bro" is brimming with cartoonish lyrical references to "Saturday morning cartoons" and memories of watching The Muppet Show "on the couch with my bro."

Too Much Too Hipster EP Side B closer "Vitamin Girl" instantly comes in with the rather anthemically-posed question: "won't you be my vitamin guuu-rrrrlllll?" Harnessed within is a classically-composed Punk/Hardcore ripper reminiscent of Alien Ant Farm, Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, and Sum 41. "Vitamin Girl" even contains a few Techno/Electro-sounding bleeps and blips with references to staring "through the smoke-filled laser beams." However, for the end-all-be-all review, my beautiful fiance Caroline added: "it's so '07; I love it... but I feel like I'm 17 again!"

Friday, February 2, 2018

Justin Timberlake released his long-awaited fifth studio album, Man of The Woods today, which has taken him "back to his Nashville roots," as well as his pre-Timbaland production partners, The Neptunes. This upcoming Sunday, Timberlake will also make his return to Super Bowl LII, playing his first half-time show since 2004's Super Bowl XXXVIII half-time show controversy, widely regarded as "Nipplegate." "When it was announced JT would return to the Super Bowl, after spectacularly failing to stand by [Janet] Jackson at the height of his career, it started bugging me more," one half of Epic Beard Men, B. Dolan wrote on Soundcloud early Friday morning. "I started out to make a single one of these mash-ups out of curiosity. Then, I kept going because I'm petty and a music nerd and it was stunningly easy," @BDolanSFR continued. B. Dolan is of course, referring to his "dope, highly unofficial 30-minute satirical mix" entitled UNJUSTIFIED: MAN OF THE PECKERWOODS presented by Strange Famous Records & Epic Beard Men. Just this past holiday season, B. Dolan and his Epic Beard Men partner-in-rhyme, Sage Francis released their second collaborative single as a group, "WAR ON CHRISTMAS."

B. Dolan has spent the last month meticulously "removing Justin Timberlake from each of his hits and replacing him with MJ & Pharrell affiliates." UNJUSTIFIED: MAN OF THE PECKERWOODS features "appearances" from A Son Unique AKA Ol' Dirty Bastard, The Clipse, JAY-Z, Janet Jackson, Jesse Williams, BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, and Strange Famous signee and actor Scroobius Pip. UNJUSTIFIED: MAN OF THE PECKERWOODS showcases thrilling re-visions of Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack," "Señorita," "Rock Your Body," "Take Back The Night," "What Goes Around... Comes Around," "Cry Me a River," "What You Got (Oh No)" JAY-Z's "Holy Grail," and likely, a few others, as well as a few notorious "Nipplegate" era sound bites. For the time being, B. Dolan's UNJUSTIFIED: MAN OF THE PECKERWOODS is now available for FREE download from Strange Famous Records'Soundcloud page and since Spotify recently changed their rules for remixes, might soon become available on the streaming platform, as well. Epic Beard Men will be doing some sort of #UNJUSTIFIED Half-time Livestream this upcoming Super Bowl Sunday and will soon announce their proper debut, Season 1 EP for a 2018 release. Epic Beard Men have announced a string of East Coast dates through March and plan to tour relentlessly through 2018.

"In 2001, Michael Jackson was offered a bundle of songs from The Neptunes. MJ's management rejected them and they found their way to Justin Timberlake—creating the breakthrough album, Justified (2002.) That's always bugged me. When it was announced JT would return to the Super Bowl, after spectacularly failing to stand by another Jackson, at the height of his career, it started bugging me more. I started out to make a single one of these mash-ups out of curiosity. Then, I kept going because I'm petty and a music nerd and it was stunningly easy. In the end, though, I figured out what had been bothering me all along about Justin: it was his presence. And his whole personhood and self. Once those things were out of the way, I really liked a lot of his music. And so, we offer this as a free download for as long as we can keep it on The Internet. Spread it far and wide. It's yours! For Janet. For Pharrell & The Clipse. For Michael. For Britney, Goddamit. Shouts out to my musical partner Adam Schneider for help with glitches and keys. Man's a wizard. Cover image by Kairkhan (@LiveLongDieLast) Enjoy the game!

PS: THE EPIC BEARD MEN are about to release their debut and have announced a string of tour dates across The East Coast. It will NOT feature this music. We will be doing a high-powered, party-rockin' Rap set full of new and old material. Hit EPICBEARDMEN.COM for dates and details!"

About Me

Greetings, people of the world... Matt Horowitz AKA "The Witzard" here. I'm a 30-year-old college grad hailing from South Jersey. After receiving degrees in both Journalism and Business Management, I started this very blog around 2010 in an effort to share my vast knowledge of Pop Culture to help sharpen my writing chops. I thoroughly enjoy all things Pop Culture and some of my favorite genres include Punk, Hip-Hop, Indie Rock, etc. But I'll practically listen to anything once. I'm also an avid record collector and honestly, almost anything sounds better on wax! Thank you kindly for listening! Please, feel free to send music submissions to sharpcheddar856@gmail.com or Follow The Witzard on Twitter (@SharpCheddar856)